One Week to Go - and we are Going!!!

Well here we are with just a week to go and the good news is that we are definitely going. I am home from hospital following surgery last week. The beast and mini beast are all ready to go. We are down to doing the final few things now - organising bills, emptying the freezer and spending time with family. My illness and time in hospital have put a new perspective on the trip- it really does seem to be a big and daunting thing to be doing (perhaps this is last minute jitters from me). This is just a short entry, with no photo - next week's entry will be far more exciting I am sure! After months and months of planning and much determination - we are almost ready to begin the adventure!

Two Weeks to Go - the Final Hurdles

Well with just under two weeks to go until our departure date... we are really being challenged in our preparations. As I write this, I have been in hospital for 5 weeks and am booked to have my gall bladder removed in a fairly big operation next Tuesday. I am quite determined that we will leave on the planned date - though I may not be able to drive much for the first couple of weeks.

Levi visiting me at the hospital

Added to the health problems, Lachlan's plans all went out the door last week when his accomodation for whilst we are away fell through. Fortunately, with the help of some truly wonderful friends, Lachlan now has a wonderful new place to stay and is feeling settled and happy. Angelle has been true to her name (an absolute angel) and has worked with family and friends to get Lachlan a caravan which they have done up as his bedroom on their property at Brierfield. Angelle has also been bringing Lach in to visit me on a regular basis. Now we are planning for Lachlan to come and join us in Darwin for the last month of the trip - with any luck, Sam (Richard and Angelle's son) will come along with Lachlan.

So now, back to our preparations... Dad has been working double time to deal with getting my vehicle ready as well as his own. The trailer is finished and has a wonderful custom made cover on it. The Beast has new shocks and a new tail light lens. We have organised the pink and green slips for both vehicles and Dad will go into Coffs some time next week to pay the rego on both vehicles (as both will run out while we are away).

Meanwhile, down in Echuca - Uncle John is busy getting ready. He has his brand new T-Van and is setting it up ready for its maiden trip. The exciting news is that Nicola and Bronwyn are flying over and will be joining us for a while at Ningaloo Reef. It will be so exciting for all of us to be together again.



Next week will be the final update before we leave...... how quickly the time has passed!

A month to go.... and the road is difficult already!

Well there are just 4 weeks left until our departure date. It would be great to say things are going smoothly.... but in the general way of things, we are travelling a rough and bumpy road on our lead-up to the big adventure.

I am in hospital and have been here for three weeks now. There is something wrong with my liver, but no doctor has been able to work out what is causing my illness and how to fix it. I am having to learn patience and am resolutely hanging on to the knowledge that we WILL leave on Thursday 3rd April. Next step, a flight to Sydney to see the liver specialist in the hope he will have some answers and my recovery can begin.

It would be easy to just throw our hands up in the air and say "forget it, we can't go" - but I will keep on planning and putting positive energy into the absolute knowledge and determination that we will go on this trip.

In the meantime, Mum and Dad have been working steadily on all of the departure details which need to be dealt with before we set off. The beast has new rear shocks (Dad says the old ones had completely had it) and a new rear tail-light lens. Now I just need to get out of here so I can get the beast roadworthied and pay the registration. That leaves the new battery as the last "big ticket" item I need to get before we go away.

The baby beast (trailer) has its new canvas cover and Dad tells me it looks terrific. Dad has even started packing some of our camping gear into the trailer - I will have to keep a really close eye on what goes in there as I don't want to end up towing a huge weight.

How exciting to think that my next blog entry will be on the eve of our departure. Bring it on!